Tag: Work

Working From Home

Working from home has its many ups and downs, but if done right it can be a highly fulfilling way to work. How!? How do I do it!?

‘The Routine’

Routines aren’t just for morning people. I once read that human beings have a certain amount of mental energy during a given day and no more. After that energy is exhausted, they feel drained and slog their way the finish line of their beds. Many highly successful people cite this as the reason they work under such stringent routines. Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs have/had a way of wearing the same thing every day. That’s one less decision to make. It’s what the New York Times called Decision Fatigue. I eat the same thing for breakfast every day, only opting to switch every six months or so. That’s one less decision for me. Find your routine to get started and stick to it.

‘The Diet’

When I work outside the home, I often eat out at restaurants because it’s easier in many ways. This, however, is not a healthy way to live your life. Working from home, I’m able to make healthy meals whenever the mood strikes me. This does wonders for the waistline and for the pocketbook. (Does anybody actually have a pocketbook anymore?)

‘The Loneliness’

Yes, working at home often means working alone. Yes, that sounds scary to those of us who are extroverts. Luckily, the internet is, apparently, a ‘thing.’ Skype, Slack, Trello, Asana, and countless other pieces of software (often made or owned by Google) make working from home a little less lonely. But what if you’re a creative type who works alone? No person is an island, as cliche as that is. Making relationships with other people that do the same thing as you is extremely important, if for no other reason than to squash that feeling of loneliness.

‘The Cabin Fever’

Go to the gym. Keep in contact with friends. Don’t fall into the trap of sitting around in your pj’s and watching daytime television while doing your work. You’ll accomplish more if you get dressed in the morning as though you’re going to work and prepping for the day. Keep fit. Keep social.

Working from home can be a blessing and a curse, but by stacking the deck you can make it highly fulfilling. Do you work from home? What do you do to keep sane and produce?